The many inspired ways to pop your corn

Take one bag of kernels and explode them into a confetti of popcorn flavour bombs. You're welcome.

Up-the-ante buttery popcorn. Source: Brodie Nalywajko

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Who would ever have thought that a humble bag of corn kernels could produce something as magical as teriyaki popcorn, gin and tonic popcorn, or (swoon) salty caramel and Brazil nut popcorn clusters? That's the thing about popcorn - it absorbs flavours like nothing else on earth.

It's time to launch some take-no-prisoners tastebud bombs, people! Grab your kernels, grab your condiments and let's pop until we drop.

Salty-meets-sweet

The candied crunch on these clusters is crackerjack. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

This combo may well be the king of snacks, so we'll start right here. Salty, sweet, nutty, crunchy and buttery - it doesn't miss a trick.

Teriyaki anything

Five minutes to prep plus five minutes to pop equals one immensely satisfying snack. Source: Yusuke Oba

A teriyaki coating tastes good on anything, but especially on popcorn.

Friend magnet

Whether served on its own or accompanied by its namesake cocktail, this recipe will have your friends popping over in no time. Source: Rhys McGowan

Combine your classic summer g&t with your popcorn snack to bring all your friends to your yard.

Cheesy good

Make it Gruyere and make it now. Source: Camellia Aebischer

A shower of finely grated cheese on a bowl of warm popcorn is comfort in a bowl. Especially when you add some cosy nutmeg into the mix.

Brittle ease

Peanuts are a major crop of Ghana; here, they're mixed into a popcorn brittle for the ultimate party snack. Source: Brodie Nalywajko

Peanuts and popcorn have been besties, since forever, as this Ghanaian take on snacking will attest.

All buttered up

French flair in popcorn form. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

Take the beautiful flavours of a classic Café de Paris butter and melt them over your popcorn. Yep, Dijon mustard, herbs, capers and anchovies are all sliding into your mouth via a light-as-air popcorn vehicle.

Buttered down

There's popcorn with butter and then there is this. Source: Brodie Nalywajko

Vegeta is an iconic Balkan seasoning of herbs, spices and dried vegetables and a stock sensation. Here, it's combined with ghee and paprika for a flavourful buttery popcorn feast.

Bicky mix

The favoured spiced Christmas cookie from the Netherlands, popped. Source: Brodie Nalywajko

An easy DIY spice mix brings the sweetly spiced magic of Dutch speculaas cookies to this popcorn party.

Better with bacon

Salty-sweet with a mild hit of mustard, this popcorn is proof that bacon does make everything taste better. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

Add bacon to popcorn? We're in! Plus this combo puts honey and mustard into the mix as well, making it exactly the snack you want to eat with a cold Friday beer.

Wattle it be

Just quietly, macadamias and popcorn are an inspired match, however they're flavoured. Source: Tammi Kwok

The addition of macadamias and wattleseed puts a welcome Aussie spin on classic caramel popcorn. It adds a nuttiness that makes this popcorn taste similar to peanut brittle.

Cancha pop

Lemon and garlic are always going to explode together. Source: Brodie Nalywajko

In Ecuador and other Latin American countries, fresh cancha corn is charred and tossed in citrus zest, garlic powder and salt. Naturally, this flavour blast works equally well with popcorn.

Just pow!

Sichuan peppercorn fans (and newbies, too) will find every mouthful of this slightly mouth-numbing, not too fiery popcorn incredibly more-ish. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

A mouthful of this numbing Sichuan pepper popcorn makes for a surprisingly satisfying snack. Enjoy with a Tsingtao, naturally.

Chilli chip

Chorizo, smoked paprika, onion, chilli, cinnamon and... popcorn. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

If its heat you're after, jump into a bowl of smoky chilli and chorizo chips. A big Spanish feast in a tiny little bite.

Ready to rumble

Boozy popcorn should be more of a thing. Source: Brodie Nalywajko

Spicy rum caramel popcorn will be a huge hit at your next gathering. Just go easy on the handfuls...

Spicy balance

This flavour is reminiscent of Light & Tangy Thins. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

Speaking of intense flavour combos, try sumac and shallot. Tart, lemony sumac is nicely complemented by the sweetness of fried shallots.

Bhuja streets

Big flavours hide how simple this is to prepare. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

Expect great things from this salty-sweet combination of cumin-spiced popcorn, crisp curry leaves, peanuts and currants — it's a play on the Indian bar mix known as bhuja or chiwda.

Ban-off-weeeee

Don’t baulk at cooking caramel; it only takes 5 minutes to get a candied crunch on these clusters. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

Banoffee works so well with popcorn you'll soon be turning out the caramel-like a boss. This is big dessert reward for very little effort.

Wasa-up

Outta this world merger. Source: China Squirrel

When two favourite snacks come together to blow us away. The flavour of wasabi peas and popcorn is through the stratosphere.

Chai this one

You can almost feel yourself relaxing just looking at this picture. Source: Belinda So

Lovers of chai will want to go deep into this one. All the spices are present: cardamom, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Plus honey, almonds and, you guessed it, popcorn.

Choc full

This chocolate popcorn is basically a grown-up version of a chocolate crackle with added sour cherries. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

Were you wondering when we'd get to the chocolate popcorn? Please, enjoy.

Choc hot

Spiced with chilli and cinnamon, this Aztec-inspired popcorn is not too sweet, so you can eat it any time of the day. Source: Amanda McLauchlan

Or this one... a Mexican chilli hot chocolate but in popcorn form. This is one late-night snack you'll want to stay up for.

Waffle on

This recipe combines crisp waffle cones, popcorn and chocolate all in one tempting bowl. Source: Brodie Nalywajko

Okay, one more chocolate popcorn mix for the road, this time combined with waffles for one mighty popcorn fix. It's all your movie-snacking dreams come true.